Automobile recall notification system and method for using the same

• US 7,142,101 B2
• Filed: 06/14/2004
• Issued: 11/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/14/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: General Motors Corporation (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Inventors: Morris, Steven E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffery
• Assistant Examiner(s): LAU, HOI CHING
• Application Number:
  US10/867,401
• Publication Number:
  US 20050275515A1
• Time in Patent Office: 897 Days
• Field of Search: 340/438, 340/618, 701/133, 701/29
• US Class Current: 340/438
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/205 Indicating the location of the monitored vehicles as destination, e.g. accidents, stolen, rental

Abstract

A method is provided for distributing a recall notification to an automobile equipped with an in-vehicle communications system. The method comprises the steps of providing a telematics service center with identification information corresponding to the automobile, matching the identification information with the corresponding in-vehicle communications system, and wirelessly transmitting the recall notification to the in-vehicle communications system. A system for distributing a recall notification to a vehicle, and a vehicle equipped with an in-vehicle communications system are also provided to carry out the method.

Claims

1. A method of distributing a recall notification to a vehicle equipped with an in-vehicle communications system including an on-board global positioning system, comprising the steps of:

distributing recall notification data, including identification information corresponding to the vehicle, to a telematics service center;

matching the identification information with the corresponding in-vehicle communications system;

wirelessly transmitting the recall notification to the in-vehicle communications system in response to the recall notification data, the recall notification being transmitted with a prompt for the automobile owner to affirm that the message be re-sent as a reminder at a selectable interval.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the identification information corresponding to the vehicle is provided by a vehicle service group.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the recall notification is transmitted as a telephone call.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the telephone call includes a pre-recorded audio message.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the recall notification is transmitted together with a signal that provides a visual notification to the vehicle.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle comprises a computer with a vehicle control module, and the recall notification is transmitted together with a code that is stored in the vehicle control module and describes a necessary repair associated with the recall notification.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle comprises a computer with a vehicle control module, and the recall notification is transmitted together with a code that recalibrates the vehicle control module.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle control module is recalibrated to prevent a recalled vehicle component failure.

9. The method according to claim 4, wherein the pre-recorded audio message includes a prompt for the automobile owner to affirm that the message has been received.

10. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of:

wirelessly transmitting directions to a nearby service center to the on-board global positioning system in response to the recall notification data.